JOB OPENING: Head Of Monetization & Marketplace

Sims 4 had a potential premium subscription prototype, it seems

"simmerorigin;c-18284128" wrote:
Sims 4 had a potential premium subscription prototype, it seems

Not surprising since it was built from the beginning to be mandatory multiplayer online only.

If they want simmers who are willing to subscribe/be chill with microtransactions, there probably is a market for them; that market isn't here on the forums or in any of the online sims communities I've run across so far. It just doesn't seem like the base they want to attract overlaps with the existing simmer base. Without knowing any of the sales data, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the early Sims 4 players had already played Sims 3, so they had a ready-made user base to tap into. If they wildly change the format to online only and/or subscription, it's going to be a bigger challenge getting the Sims 4 market to jump over to being nickeled and dimed for a new game. That'd make a very rough transition to profitability, especially if they don't have a $60 base game right at the start to rake in cash.

The game has also always had free modders and CC creators as an integral part of the community. I just can't see forcing user content through their store so they can monetize it will go the way they hope.

I do not really view someone who plays the Sims a gamer. Sure, they could play other games, but this is more like a hobby than a true game. You tell stories, you build, you create. I see no reason for a pay for a subscription service or microtransactions to do this, if that is their intention.

"HavenRose;c-18285399" wrote:
If they want simmers who are willing to subscribe/be chill with microtransactions, there probably is a market for them; that market isn't here on the forums or in any of the online sims communities I've run across so far. It just doesn't seem like the base they want to attract overlaps with the existing simmer base. Without knowing any of the sales data, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the early Sims 4 players had already played Sims 3, so they had a ready-made user base to tap into. If they wildly change the format to online only and/or subscription, it's going to be a bigger challenge getting the Sims 4 market to jump over to being nickeled and dimed for a new game. That'd make a very rough transition to profitability, especially if they don't have a $60 base game right at the start to rake in cash.

The game has also always had free modders and CC creators as an integral part of the community. I just can't see forcing user content through their store so they can monetize it will go the way they hope.

The people who are active in the modding and CC community seems to be more part of the player base that grew up playing the older games so yes, they need to make their new game appealing to them too otherwise there will not be many people that will contribute to their store.

I would say the strength of The Sims 4 is it's community with a wide range of mods and cc, the packs that we are getting from maxis, the fact that there are no other games like it and the low barrier entry (not much required to play the game in terms of money and hardware).

But the weakness of The Sims 4 is the support from it when it comes to performance and bugs, the amount of all packs that adds up to a high cost, and also the low barrier entry because that limits Maxis a lot from what they can make in their packs.

Project Rene so far doesn't seem to have a lot of the strength that The Sims 4 have, we don't know if modders and cc creators will happily create content for it, we don't know if we will be getting packs from maxis, is that even possible if they want the game to run on mobile? There are other games in development that are similiar to the sims, and the fact that it's going to run on mobile and also be compatible with multiplayer could limit them even more in what Maxis could add to the game and the high cost of a potential store with microtransactions or other content could turn off the community even more if they don't find the game appealing.

I really hope that they have a more stable framework in mind for Rene because right now it feels a bit shaky.

Time will tell I guess, but I won't accept a game that has to be always online. If that happens with Sims 5 I will be done with the franchise. The rest will be a wait and see situation.

"HavenRose;c-18285399" wrote:
If they want simmers who are willing to subscribe/be chill with microtransactions, there probably is a market for them; that market isn't here on the forums or in any of the online sims communities I've run across so far. It just doesn't seem like the base they want to attract overlaps with the existing simmer base. Without knowing any of the sales data, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the early Sims 4 players had already played Sims 3, so they had a ready-made user base to tap into. If they wildly change the format to online only and/or subscription, it's going to be a bigger challenge getting the Sims 4 market to jump over to being nickeled and dimed for a new game. That'd make a very rough transition to profitability, especially if they don't have a $60 base game right at the start to rake in cash.

The game has also always had free modders and CC creators as an integral part of the community. I just can't see forcing user content through their store so they can monetize it will go the way they hope.

One of the reason Sims Expansion Packs are so profitable is because of the Foot in the Door Technique. First they charge you $40 for a base game. Then your foot is in the door, getting you to buy another pack, and another after that is easy. Some players are so addicted, they can't imagine not getting every pack for a sims game. I was in this category for Sims 1 - 3. Though Sims 2 we got mostly used versions after Sims 3 came out, we still own the whole collection.

If they are going Free, I'd expect that technique wouldn't work anymore, which is why I'm so alarmed by the latest Job Offer News. EA isn't stupid. They know this. So if they are lessening their foot in the door price, to a simple few dollars for this cool new set of DLC Items, this is a very crafty way to rake in a lot of money from people. I am naturally nauseated by this level of greed and manipulation. If EA is going down this path for real, I am OUT!

"cody6268;c-18283732" wrote:
I am sure hoping they realized "Whoa, we nearly made this mistake with TS4, maybe we ought to rethink this". However, I have the premonition that they want online, multiplayer, and microtransaction-ridden. Three things I could care less about. My frustrations with FreePlay were what eventually led me to get TS3 and TS4.

As they create the newest entry to The Sims franchise, it seems that EA is going after bigger fish -- whales, so to speak. They want a player base that is already accustomed to a "pay-to-win" scheme.

In the case of the Sims, I'm guessing that 'winning' will entail having the most exclusive clothes, furnishings, homes, cars, and vacation destinations. Those players will be willing to pay for big-name concerts, one-time-only souvenirs, and gameplay contests with loads of prizes. TS4 has been laying the groundwork for years.

"Cynna;c-18285824" wrote:

"cody6268;c-18283732" wrote:
I am sure hoping they realized "Whoa, we nearly made this mistake with TS4, maybe we ought to rethink this". However, I have the premonition that they want online, multiplayer, and microtransaction-ridden. Three things I could care less about. My frustrations with FreePlay were what eventually led me to get TS3 and TS4.

As they create the newest entry to The Sims franchise, it seems that EA is going after bigger fish -- whales, so to speak. They want a player base that is already accustomed to a "pay-to-win" scheme.

In the case of the Sims, I'm guessing that 'winning' will entail having the most exclusive clothes, furnishings, homes, cars, and vacation destinations. Those players will be willing to pay for big-name concerts, one-time-only souvenirs, and gameplay contests with loads of prizes. TS4 has been laying the groundwork for years.

The problem with P2W is everyone is already burnt out on it - other games are moving away from that model in a stampede, including mobile. Microtransactions might be around a bit longer, where they make sense - but even the demographic EA seems to be aiming at is against P2W, including children, except maybe the really young, which is a terrifying thought for the next installment of The Sims. The Sims 4 is already childish for preteens, so if they target the under 5 crowd...well, I won't be playing, that's for sure lol.

"WildIrishBanshee;c-18285837" wrote:

The problem with P2W is everyone is already burnt out on it - other games are moving away from that model in a stampede, including mobile. Microtransactions might be around a bit longer, where they make sense - but even the demographic EA seems to be aiming at is against P2W, including children, except maybe the really young, which is a terrifying thought for the next installment of The Sims. The Sims 4 is already childish for preteens, so if they target the under 5 crowd...well, I won't be playing, that's for sure lol.

If that is the case, thank goodness. That's good news for gaming, as a whole. Hopefully, EA is reading the room. However, some of the things that EA/Maxis has been doing with TS4 leads me to believe that they are stubbornly forging ahead, regardless.